Bryan Rogers, a senior at the University of New Hampshire, has designed a new program specifically designed for senior citizens in an attempt to break the stereotypical retirement mold. The program, named the Dover Recreation Senior Fitness Program, will allow seniors to take part in a light workout that will be both beneficial and fun. "The specific aim is to get the seniors involved, whether it is to get them in shape or just to improve their happiness," said Rogers. "They can make new friends through the program, which is something that will be a big part of what we're doing with the seniors." When the Dover Recreation Director said that one of the things that the Dover community was lacking was a recreation program for the elderly, Rogers jumped at the opportunity. Rogers, a recreation management and policy major, has worked hard to keep in shape since his early high school years, and he will now use that experience to help others become healthier. The program encourages a relaxed, friendly environment where seniors do not have to worry about feeling self-conscious while they work out. Many local gyms have opportunities for seniors to exercise, but Rogers feels most of the local hotspots can be unsettling for seniors looking to ride a stationary bike or go for a short walk on a treadmill. "We want it to be a comfortable setting," explains Rogers. "Gyms like Planet Fitness can be an intimidating environment for seniors. They may not be comfortable around big guys dropping weights and girls that look like models." Running the program as a part of his internship with the Dover Recreation Department, Rogers will lead morning exercise classes for an hour each Tuesday and Thursday within the McConnell Center. Each day will start off with stretching and chair exercises that seniors can learn quickly and do on their own at home. The program will then use light free weights to focus on increasing upper or lower body strength training, depending on the day of the class. The idea for the program has created a buzz around the Dover Senior Center, an organization for senior citizens which also shares space within the McConnell Center. The members of the center are the main target for the Dover Recreation Senior Fitness Program, and it has been well received by the majority of the seniors, even those who do not feel it would be best for them. "To me it looks a little sedentary," says Edward Loomis, a member of the Dover Senior Center. "I could walk down from the house to the program to get a little extra exercise out of it, but I think if I were to use it, I would mostly use [the program] as a social thing. I could go and yack away with others seniors, even if the workouts didn't do much for me." According to Rogers, studies have shown that the majority of seniors have benefited in some way from exercise and fitness programs. In combination with a healthy diet, he says that exercising can help manage weight and provide seniors with more energy, in addition to providing relief from stress, depression and arthritis, as well as giving them more energy and boosting their immune system. Rogers explains that exercise has also been linked to other various health benefits, such as a reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and blood pressure, but he emphasized that his program will focus on providing the seniors with another activity specifically designed for them in addition to the positives of staying active. "I think a lot of people forget about the seniors," says Rogers. "They think that once the seniors retire, there is no need for them to work out, which is why a there are not a lot of programs aimed specifically at seniors." The Dover Recreation Senior Fitness Program will begin on Tuesday, March 6 at 9:30 a.m. and run for about seven weeks, and the doors are open to all seniors within the Dover community looking to improve their mobility and physical health. Some seniors may not be able to make it in to the McConnell Center on a regular basis for the classes, but Rogers says that is fine. He says that there are many other simple things that can be done to stay healthy in between classes, such as eating well.
"Sometimes they may not be able to go to the supermarket as much as they'd like, so they just eat what is lying around the house," says Rogers, emphasizing that avoiding snack foods and processed sugar is an easy way to improve a diet. "Another easy thing that they could do is if they are going to the mall, they can park near the back of the lot so they can get a little extra exercise while they shop."
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